1

The Future of Libraries & eBooks

Library Simplified and the Library

Econtent Access Project (LEAP) By Micah May

6/17/2015

22

1. Overview

2. Key Issues

3. Solutions

4. Potential next steps

Contents

33

Overview: eBook use in US libraries and NYPL

44

Library EBooks use and spend is growing fast…

FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$30

$55

$70

$82

$111

Spend by US Public Libraries on eBooks

Lib

rary

eB

oo

k S

pe

nd

- $

Mil

lio

ns

55

But lags far behind consumer eBooks sales…

Library spend on eBooks is still nascent relative the consumer market. US libraries spent $86M on eBooks in 2012 and over $100M in 2013.4

2011 2012 2013

2.43.3 3.4

11.6 11.7 11.2

US Trade Publishing Revenue - $ billioneBooks All Other

Total Print Non-print (DVD, CD)

eResources - not

eBooks

eBooks

1.2 0.8

0.2

0.10.1

2012 US Library Spend2 - $ billion

In 2013, 28% of US adults read an eBook, up from only 17% in 2011.1 In the same period, publishing revenue for eBooks grew from $2.4 billion to $3.4 billion while the overall market fell.2

66

… and cant keep up with demand

• Library budget cant keep up with demand, so holds queues are long

• Print circulation still greatly exceeds eBook circulation at libraries. eBook lending accounted for 7% of US library circulation in 2012, while print circulation accounted for 59%.5

• Very few eReaders borrow eBooks from libraries. Only 2% of American adults borrowed an eBook from a library in 2012, which is only 12% of those who read an eBook that year.6

59%

12%

8%

7%6%

3%5%

2012 US Library Circ by Item1 - % of total

Print Book

DVD

Audiobooks

eBooks (7%)

E Video

Music CDs

Other

77

So growth is likely to continue

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

FY2009

FY2010

FY2011

FY2012

FY2013

FY2014

FY2015

FY2016

FY2017

FY2018

FY2019

FY2020

Libr

ary

eBoo

k Sp

end -$

Mill

ions

Library eBook Market -- Projected Spend

Aggressive (CAGR)

Moderate

Conservative

Very Conservative

Actual

88

Key Issues

99

The user experience can be cumbersome

Search for titlein catalog

Current process

Find record in eBook format

Follow link to eBook site

Sign in to eBook site

Download eBook to device

Sign in to catalog

Up to 19 steps

1010

Users must often navigate multiple platforms Baker & Taylor eBook

Platforms

OverDrive3M Cloud

Library

Baker & Taylor

Polaris

SierraILS

Sierra APIs

Polaris APIs

Library IT Systems

MillenniumILS

Web Pac

BiblioCommons(OPAC)

3M eBook Platforms

OPAC

OverDrive eBook Platforms

?

1111

eBooks are not reaching a broad diverse audience

NYC-based eReaders are wealthier and more educated than non-eReaders. Those who read eBooks have higher average household incomes and are more likely to be college-educated and employed.10

NYC eReaders NYC non-eReaders

Gender 51% male, 49% female 48% male, 52% female

Household Income $84,500/year $63,000/year

Employment Status 83% employed 54% employed

Education level 72% college degree or more

50% some college or less

1212

Libraries don’t own their relationships with users or with publishers

1313

ROI on Library eBooks is falling (cost/circ is rising)

FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14P

0.20.3

0.4

0.9

1.2

1.6

$0.2$0.3

$0.4

$1.1$1.2

$2.1

NYPL eBook Circ and Spend7

eBook Circ (millions) eBook Spend ($ million)

1414

Solutions: Readers FirstLibrary SimplifiedOpen eBooks

1515

1616

Ideal process

Search for titlein catalog

Sign in to catalog

Download eBook to device

3 Step or less

Discover | Borrow | Read

1717

OverDrive3M Cloud

Library

Baker & Taylor

Polaris

SierraILS

Sierra APIs

Polaris APIs

Library Systems

MillenniumILS

Web Pac

BiblioCommons(OPAC)

Vendor Web Catalogue

Library Simplified

Library Simplified

18

19

Open eBooks

Partners

• White House

• IMLS

• DPLA

• First Book

Publishers: • Macmillan• Simon &

Schuster• Penguin

Random House

• Hachette• Candlewick• Bloomsbury• Lee & Low• Cricket Media• HarperCollins

20

Library E-content Access Project

Vision: It’s time to build library-owned shelves -- the capacity to host and distribute eBooks and launch a library owned eBook marketplace through which libraries everywhere can buy.

This platform could: • Be built and live within a few years • Start with eBooks but eventually expand • Follow and advance ReadersFirst principles • Quickly become self-sustaining• Offers a WIN-WIN for publishers • Be decentralized • Use a small portion of revenue to support other critical leadership work  

Reader Circ mgmt Discovery Hosting Market Place Ingest

Opportunity

Library eBook supply chain

2121

Potential next steps:How you can get involved

22

Potential next steps for Libraries

On Library Simplified: (1) Spread the word (2) Set up and support an instance of Library Simplified for Minitex members(3) Join Readium as a full member (commercial price of $30k) and be able to help member libraries (and possibly non-members) to set up their own separate instances without paying the initial $5K to join Readium joining fee (4) With other states or consortia, co-sponsor enhancement to LS that support MiniTex mission, eg the ability to federate collections from many libraries

On LEAP (building the market place):(1) Stay plugged into planning and thinking happening in DPLA working groups (2) Contribute to the building/doing in a small defined way (exact role tbd) (3) Join emerging joint venture, contribute significant resources and become a co-founder 

2323

Thank You!

Questions?

2424

Sources